More light-rail options for northern Va.? Study may reveal a need

Officials are looking into light-rail expansion between Alexandria and Quantico.

Progress Rail

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation is curious as to what residents think about the expansion of rail between Alexandria and Quantico.

The agency has released a survey to those impacted on what improvements need to be made.

The population in the study area is expected to increase 24% to 550,000 by 2045 and jobs are expected to spike 34%, or 270,000. Officials are looking at bus rapid transit and expanding the Virginia Railway Express and Metro to deal with the demand.

A $3.7 billion Transforming Rail in Virginia agreement between the state, Amtrak, and CSX is expected to greatly increase Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak service in the corridor, and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation is hoping to complement the agreement with an increase in transit options. Transit improvements are already taking place and will be progressing over the next decade, but accessibility to transit options decrease significantly south of Alexandria from Fairfax to Prince William counties.

The technical advisory committee for the study is made up of representatives from Fairfax and Prince William counties, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, the Potomac & Rappahannock Transportation Commission, the Department of Defense, Virginia Railway Express and WMATA.

At the last meeting several topics were discussed including the expansion of Metro Yellow and Blue lines. A virtual public meeting will be held on May 4, and the survey will close on May l5. The final report will be submitted to the General Assembly by December.

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